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At present I am retired and spending my time mostly on fishing and photography. I bought my first SLR way back in 1982. It was a Minolta XG1. My last film camera was the Maxxum 9000. When the fantastic Sony Alpha 100 was launched, I changed over to the digital system. My Alpha 580 was acquired followed closely by my Alpha 77.

My main interest in photography is lifestyles, sports, sceneries, nature, birds and macro shots. Lately, I have spend more time on bird and nature shooting. As a regular contributer to some fishing magazines, I shoot quite a lot of photographs of anglers too....hence my photography blog is named 'SHOOT THE HOOKER'.



Having grown up near the confluence of two, the Kangsar and the Perak Rivers, it is not surprising that one of my main interest is fishing. My younger days were spent swimming and fishing.... with a bamboo pole, line and small hooks.Now while fishing, my friends and I do take a lot of photographs of anglers in action. The anglers must be careful so as not to accidentally hook on to a photographer. So I think as a reminder, I would like to name my fishing blog as 'HOOK THE SHOOTER'.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

THE NINE EMPEROR GODS (KOW WONG YEH).

The festival of the Nine Emperor Gods is one of the most grand festivals of Taoism. This festival begins on the eve of the 9th month of the lunar calender. Dedicated to the nine sons of Dou Mu Yuan Jun (The Goddess of the North Star) and Dau Fui Yuan Jun. The nine sons, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods, are worshipped as the patrons of properity, wealth and good health. It is the immigrants from the provinces of Fujian and Quangdung (Widely practiced in Southern China) who brought with them this practice to S.E.Asia.
On the eve of the 9th lunar month, temples of the dieties hold ceremonies to welcome the Nine Emperor Gods from the river sides or seashores. Devotees usually observe nine days of strict vegetarian diets. The climax of the festival is the fire-walking ceremony (only done by those who have observed 9 days of vegetarian diets) followed by the sending off of the Gods. Most times street processions are organised on a grand scale with devotees going into trances. Some might even have their cheeks pierced by  long lances which they carry throughout the processions. Marching bands, flower girls and floats add to the carnival like atmostphere. The main attractions are the heavy sedan chairs carried by four or more devotees in white that will swirl and swing as they slowly move along with the procession.

A devotee praying and
burning paper offerings.


A devotee having his cheek pierced
 by a long lance conducted by the master.





Devotee in a trance, prancing
round the temple compound.



Fire walking is on the last day of
 the festival preceding the sending
 off of the Nine Emperor Gods.


Devotees from other races
 sometimes join in too.


Lion and dragon dances are
a  part of the procession.
 
The giant flag bearers show
off their skill by manoeuvering,
 tossing to each other and
 balancing the flags.
Marching bands are the ones
 providing the beats and
modern music to the mood.
The gaiety of the festival are
 shown on the faces of these girls.





 
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